Downhole pump multiphase fluid conditioner

ABSTRACT

A downhole multiphase fluid conditioner is described that includes a head, a base, and a gas separator having a plurality of gas exits and an uphole end and a downhole end. Two or more pump stages are operably connected to the head and the uphole end of the gas separator. Each of the two or more pump stages are a contrahelical stage, a centrifugal stage, a gas handler centrifugal stage, or any combination thereof. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner further may include either (1) two or more pump stages operably connected to the base and the downhole end of the gas separator wherein each of the two or more pump stages are a contrahelical stage, a centrifugal stage, a gas handler centrifugal stage, or any combination thereof; or (2) a gas handler centrifugal stage operably connected to the base and the downhole end of the gas separator.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to U.S. Application No. 63/311,127 filed Feb. 17, 2022 which is incorporated by reference. It is also related to U.S. Pat. No. 10,519,756 which is incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to, for example, a downhole pump multiphase fluid conditioner.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a representative multiphase fluid device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description of embodiments provides non-limiting representative examples to particularly describe features and teachings of different aspects of the invention. The embodiments described should be recognized as capable of implementation separately, or in combination, with other embodiments from the description of the embodiments. A person of ordinary skill in the art reviewing the description of embodiments should be able to learn and understand the different described aspects of the invention. The description of embodiments should facilitate understanding of the invention to such an extent that other implementations, not specifically covered but within the knowledge of a person of skill in the art having read the description of embodiments, would be understood to be consistent with an application of the invention.

FIG. 1 shows a representative device. A head 10 is connected to a number of pump stages which stages may comprise a plurality of contrahelical, centrifugal, or gas handler centrifugal pump stages, e.g., up to 4, or up to 6, or up to 8, or up to 10, or up to 15, or up to 20, or up to 25, or up to 30, or even up to 35 or more contrahelical pump stages 20. The contrahelical pump stages 20 are connected to at least one gas separator 30 having a plurality of gas exits 31. If desired for certain applications two, or three, or more gas separators may be used in series. The one or more gas separator 30 is connected to either a second set of a plurality of pump stages, e.g., contrahelical pump stages, e.g., up to 4, or up to 6, or up to 8, or up to 10, or up to 15, or up to 20, or up to 25, or up to 30, or even up to 35 or more contrahelical pump stages or alternatively the second set of contrahelical pump stages may be a gas handler centrifugal stage. The alternatives are shown as reference numeral 40 in FIG. 1 and are connected to a base 50 of the device. The gas separator 30 is not particularly limited as to type and in some embodiments a vortex gas separator may be useful. As one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, the flow starts at the base of the device and travels to the head where it exits.

Advantageously, using the described configuration may result in compression being added before the primary pump. That is, adding the contrahelical, centrifugal, or gas handler centrifugal pump stages, e.g., up to 4, or up to 6, or up to 8, or up to 10 contrahelical pump stages 20 facilitate more gas expulsion than a conventional gas separator. While not wishing to be bound to any particular theory it is believed that the addition of the stages 20 generates low pressure areas in stator and thereby increases gas removal. That is, the use of the contrahelical, centrifugal, or gas handler centrifugal pump stages, e.g., up to 4, or up to 6, or up to 8, or up to 10 contrahelical pump stages 20 may increase the pressure change and thereby condition the fluid exiting the gas separator for primary pump. The stages at 20 may act as a charge pump to increase fluid pressure and condition the fluid by, for example, mixing and homogenizing multiphase fluid prior to entering the next stage.

The length of the device may vary depending upon the desired application. In some embodiments the length may be maximized while optimizing horsepower for gas bubble recirculation. In some embodiments the device may be from about 17 to about 24 feet in length with the device length being from about 10 to about 14 feet above the base 50. The horsepower employed may vary depending upon the application and could be less than 80, or less than 60 horsepower. Of course, one may optimize the device in relation to horsepower, pressure differential, and cost.

Embodiments

-   1. A downhole multiphase fluid conditioner comprising:

a head;

a base;

a gas separator having a plurality of gas exits and an uphole end and a downhole end;

a plurality of contrahelical pump stages operably connected to the head and the uphole end of the gas separator; and

a plurality of contrahelical pump stages operably connected to the base and the downhole end of the gas separator.

-   2. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of embodiment 1,     wherein the gas separator comprises a vortex gas separator. -   3. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of embodiment 1,     wherein the gas separator comprises two or more gas separator units     connected in series. -   4. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of embodiment 1,     wherein the length is from about 17 to about 24 feet. -   5. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of embodiment 1,     wherein the length of the downhole multiphase fluid conditioner     excluding the base is from about 10 to about 14 feet. -   6. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of embodiment 1,     wherein the downhole multiphase fluid conditioner is configured to     employ a horsepower of less than 80 horsepower. -   7. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of embodiment 1,     wherein the downhole multiphase fluid conditioner is configured to     employ a horsepower of less than 60 horsepower. -   8. A downhole multiphase fluid conditioner comprising:

a head;

a base;

a gas separator having a plurality of gas exits and an uphole end and a downhole end;

two or more pump stages operably connected to the head and the uphole end of the gas separator wherein each of the two or more pump stages are a contrahelical stage, a centrifugal stage, a gas handler centrifugal stage, or any combination thereof; and

(1) two or more pump stages operably connected to the base and the downhole end of the gas separator wherein each of the two or more pump stages are a contrahelical stage, a centrifugal stage, a gas handler centrifugal stage, or any combination thereof; or

(2) a gas handler centrifugal stage operably connected to the base and the downhole end of the gas separator.

-   9. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of embodiment 8,     wherein the two or more pump stages operably connected to the head     and the uphole end of the gas separator comprise contrahelical pump     stages. -   10. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of embodiment 8,     wherein the two or more pump stages operably connected to the head     and the uphole end of the gas separator comprise up to 10     contrahelical pump stages. -   11. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of embodiment 8,     wherein the downhole multiphase fluid conditioner comprises (1) two     or more pump stages operably connected to the base and the downhole     end of the gas separator wherein each of the two or more pump stages     are a contrahelical stage, a centrifugal stage, a gas handler     centrifugal stage, or any combination thereof. -   12. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of embodiment 11,     wherein the downhole multiphase fluid conditioner comprises up to 6     contrahelical pump stages operably connected to the base and the     downhole end of the gas separator. -   13. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of embodiment 8,     wherein the downhole multiphase fluid conditioner comprises (2) a     gas handler centrifugal stage operably connected to the base and the     downhole end of the gas separator. -   14. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of embodiment 8,     wherein the gas separator comprises a vortex gas separator. -   15. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of embodiment 8,     wherein the gas separator comprises two or more gas separator units     connected in series. -   16. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of embodiment 8,     wherein the length is from about 17 to about 24 feet. -   17. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of embodiment 8,     wherein the length of the downhole multiphase fluid conditioner     excluding the base is from about 10 to about 14 feet. -   18. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of embodiment 8,     wherein the downhole multiphase fluid conditioner is configured to     employ a horsepower of less than 80 horsepower. -   19. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of embodiment 8,     wherein the downhole multiphase fluid conditioner is configured to     employ a horsepower of less than 60 horsepower. -   20. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of embodiment 8,     wherein the two or more pump stages operably connected to the head     and the uphole end of the gas separator are configured to homogenize     a multiphase fluid.

In some applications the device may comprise hard materials such as tungsten carbide to protect against sand erosion and abrasion. HS bearings may also be employed if desired.

In the preceding specification, various embodiments have been described with references to the accompanying drawings. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made thereto, and additional embodiments may be implemented, without departing from the broader scope of the invention as set forth in the claims that follow. The specification and drawings are accordingly to be regarded as an illustrative rather than restrictive sense. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A downhole multiphase fluid conditioner comprising: a head; a base; a gas separator having a plurality of gas exits and an uphole end and a downhole end; a plurality of contrahelical pump stages operably connected to the head and the uphole end of the gas separator; and a plurality of contrahelical pump stages operably connected to the base and the downhole end of the gas separator.
 2. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of claim 1, wherein the gas separator comprises a vortex gas separator.
 3. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of claim 1, wherein the gas separator comprises two or more gas separator units connected in series.
 4. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of claim 1, wherein the length is from about 17 to about 24 feet.
 5. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of claim 1, wherein the length of the downhole multiphase fluid conditioner excluding the base is from about 10 to about 14 feet.
 6. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of claim 1, wherein the downhole multiphase fluid conditioner is configured to employ a horsepower of less than 80 horsepower.
 7. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of claim 1, wherein the downhole multiphase fluid conditioner is configured to employ a horsepower of less than 60 horsepower.
 8. A downhole multiphase fluid conditioner comprising: a head; a base; a gas separator having a plurality of gas exits and an uphole end and a downhole end; two or more pump stages operably connected to the head and the uphole end of the gas separator wherein each of the two or more pump stages are a contrahelical stage, a centrifugal stage, a gas handler centrifugal stage, or any combination thereof; and (1) two or more pump stages operably connected to the base and the downhole end of the gas separator wherein each of the two or more pump stages are a contrahelical stage, a centrifugal stage, a gas handler centrifugal stage, or any combination thereof; or (2) a gas handler centrifugal stage operably connected to the base and the downhole end of the gas separator.
 9. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of claim 8, wherein the two or more pump stages operably connected to the head and the uphole end of the gas separator comprise contrahelical pump stages.
 10. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of claim 8, wherein the two or more pump stages operably connected to the head and the uphole end of the gas separator comprise up to 10 contrahelical pump stages.
 11. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of claim 8, wherein the downhole multiphase fluid conditioner comprises (1) two or more pump stages operably connected to the base and the downhole end of the gas separator wherein each of the two or more pump stages are a contrahelical stage, a centrifugal stage, a gas handler centrifugal stage, or any combination thereof.
 12. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of claim 11, wherein the downhole multiphase fluid conditioner comprises up to 6 contrahelical pump stages operably connected to the base and the downhole end of the gas separator.
 13. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of claim 8, wherein the downhole multiphase fluid conditioner comprises (2) a gas handler centrifugal stage operably connected to the base and the downhole end of the gas separator.
 14. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of claim 8, wherein the gas separator comprises a vortex gas separator.
 15. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of claim 8, wherein the gas separator comprises two or more gas separator units connected in series.
 16. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of claim 8, wherein the length is from about 17 to about 24 feet.
 17. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of claim 8, wherein the length of the downhole multiphase fluid conditioner excluding the base is from about 10 to about 14 feet.
 18. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of claim 8, wherein the downhole multiphase fluid conditioner is configured to employ a horsepower of less than 80 horsepower.
 19. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of claim 8, wherein the downhole multiphase fluid conditioner is configured to employ a horsepower of less than 60 horsepower.
 20. The downhole multiphase fluid conditioner of claim 8, wherein the two or more pump stages operably connected to the head and the uphole end of the gas separator are configured to homogenize a multiphase fluid. 